…Finding a clinic that has more reasonable parameters in regards to healthy testosterone, free test, estrogen, etc levels that warrant hormone therapy. Meaning easier to qualify if your readings are on the lower end of the spectrum but still in range by “normal” clinical standards. As another said, check out some bodybuilding forums or even youtube videos to see if they mention any TRT clinics. Have your bloodwork done and mailed to them, and they can prescribe the real deal instead of a cream or gel. That is if you don’t mind injecting yourself. I believe that this would be cheaper, more reliable, and you may only have to inject once or twice a week.

Even with the perfect keto diet, all the natural test boosting supplements, and exercise, your body may not respond as much as you’d like. I don’t know of any other alternatives other than the cream/gel or getting into actual needle work. There are orals you can take that enhance your hormone levels in various ways but, as far as I know, you can’t stay on them as they are hell on your liver and probably heart.

I’ve been on TRT for 15 years based on a doctor’s prescription. I inject myself every two weeks rather than use that nasty gel. I’m on Medicare and Part D and it covers my testosterone. The only thing it doesn’t cover is the needles and syringes, but those only cost a dollar or two each. You might try that.

wouldn't cover it either.  I started on the gel, but it was a daily dose, which I would often forget to do.  I switched to the intramuscular injections (thigh or hip) which only requires an injection every 4 days and costs me about $75 a month.  Dosing frequency varies from person to person so the cost will vary some if you are using more or less than I am, but its still going to be a lot cheaper than the gel.  However, this is not for the needle-phobic.  There are two companion drugs that you take with it that have been discussed on this forum within the past few months.   A search should get you the info.  I'm looking into using a compounding pharmacy, too, to get all three in the same injection, but because they metabolize at slightly different rates, I'm not sure yet if its going to be right for me. Make sure your urologist is up on the latest science.   My first doc was a little behind the times, so I switched to one that a fellow gym rat recommended. If cost is your primary concern, I think the compounding route will be more expensive than taking the three drugs separately, but that will probably still be cheaper than the gel.  You should still do it.  It will change your life.  I started five years ago to improve my workout results, and the most noticeable side effect was better wood.  Who doesn't want that???  Lol

Hard to interpret exactly what you're paying $1,400/month for, but check GoodRx as a reference for pricing. The site also compares brand name to generics.